AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW
SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL
"GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.

Here is a link to Craigslist
Scams page that contains of samples of messages you may receive.

06/24/2009

We have received several reports lately of Mystery
Shopper Scams. The way it works, is you receive an envelope
containing what appears to be a legitimate form from a Marketing
Company. On some of these we have noticed mis-spelled words, ie:
Totalex Merketing Inc. Be leery of any documentation that contains
mis-spelled words. Most legitimate companies pride them selves in
being professional and verify their documentation for correctness.
These packets will usually also include a check made payable to you.
Think carefully about this. Did you apply with this company to do
this kind of work? How do you suppose they got your name and
address? They will advise you that the check is to cover your pay,
funds for shopping, and then they will ask you to send the rest to another
address by Western Union, or a Money Gram. If they want you to send
money back to them, there is a problem. If it is a legitimate
company, you will be paid for your services, and not be asked to send any
money back to them. If you cash this check/money order, YOU will be
responsible for the funds if, or when the check/money order is returned to
be counterfeit, or forged. You could be facing criminal charges if this
happens. Here is a sample of a document that was turned into
us. The check was never cashed so this person was wise to bring to
us for review. Click
here for a copy of the documents. If you are concerned about
something you receive, take it to your local law enforcement agency and
let them examine it.

07/29/2008

Police are investigating
a suspected case of fraud and flimflam after a 55-year-old Murfreesboro
man reported Monday that he was scammed out of $7,000 by two men he met at
the Home Depot on Old Fort Parkway.

The victim told police he
was approached by another man who said he needed help to get to a pharmacy
and that he “had $400,000 on him.”

According to an incident
report, the victim said he then took the man, whose name is unknown at
this time, to a local bank so he could deposit his money. The suspect then
told the victim “he did not trust the bank.”

The victim then took the man to several locations and eventually withdrew
$7,000 of his own money from his account to show the man how it is done.
He explained to the man, who claimed to be from a foreign country, that
people “have equal rights” in the United States.

The 55-year-old then told the man that they could trust each other,
according to the report.

The man suspected of scamming the victim reportedly had an accomplice in
the area. He asked the victim to pick him up, and he complied.

According to the report, after the 55-year-old picked up the second
suspect, he was told by the first suspect that “we know you are
trustworthy if you let us hold your $7,000 and walk around McDonalds on
Old Fort Parkway and come back.”

The victim told police he gave the men the money, but they never
reappeared around the other side of McDonalds.

The suspected flimflammers were described by the victim as two black
males. One wore a blue shirt and tie, and the other had a “sailor’s
hat on.”

A Daily News Journal reporter attempted to contact the victim Tuesday to
find out more details of the crime, but he said he would not comment on
the incident.

The bank which the victim withdrew his money from is not listed in the
police report.

Murfreesboro Police spokesman Kyle Evans said the typical scams that
police usually deal with are Internet or telephone based scams. However,
the scam on Monday’s victim was relatively similar.

“One scam that comes to mind is the Internet check or lottery scam,”
Evans said. “In that scam, the victim receives an e-mail from a
perpetrator that asks them for help with cashing a check or lottery
ticket. The victim is asked to send a money order to the perpetrator, who
sent them a check or a lottery ticket, and there is usually a reason why
they can’t cash the check or claim the lottery ticket.”

Evans said the perpetrator will then ask the victim for a deposit or a
certain amount of money up front, promising them a cut of the check or
winning lottery ticket in return. It is not until after the victims
deposit is received by the perpetrator that he or she realizes the check
sent by he or she is a fake.

“In this case we are glad that this victim only lost his money,” Evans
said. “The victim had the suspects in his vehicle and drove to several
locations which could have been very dangerous. He could have been injured
or killed.”

For that reason, Evans said, he would encourage people not to let
strangers enter into their vehicle for any reason.

“If any good can come of this it is that it will bring awareness to
people that these scams are out there,” Evans said. “Hopefully no one
else will become victim to this crime.”

Story by Daily News
Journal, Murfreesboro, TN.

03/18/2008

Puppy
Scams:

It
has been brought to our attention that one of the most current Nigerian
Scam is puppy sales. They are apparently placing classified ads in
newspapers and websites. These adds have been know for Yorkie and
English Bull Dog puppies. The Shelbyville Police Department has been
made aware of one case where a local resident's credit card was used to
place some ads, and another local person had contacted these people in
reference to purchasing a puppy. Fortunately, this person became
suspicious and cancelled the transaction before any money was sent.
They have been known to use dead end phones where you may get a message
that the number you called is out of service, or no longer in
service. Shortly, thereafter, you may get a call from that same
number. They will usually request that you send money by Western
Union. If you refuse, they have been known to threaten to hurt the puppy.
This is a red flag. Once you send the money by Western Union, there
is no way to get your money back. Please be aware of these type
scams and be sure that you would like to get a pet, check with local
animal shelters, the Bedford
County Humane Society . If they do not have anything that you
are looking for, they will be happy to send you in the right
direction. If you feel that you are the victim of one of these
scams. please contact you local law enforcement agency.

01/15/2008

Money
Order Scams:

We
have had a number of reports of people receiving money orders in the mail,
where you are requested to cash the money orders and then send them to
another location by Western Union. They will usually inform you to
keep a portion of the money for your inconvenience. These money
orders are usually forged or altered. We have seen several US Postal
Money Orders in the area. Once you cash these money orders, YOU, are
the person responsible for paying back the banking institution if/or when
these money orders are returned. If you receive any of these and
would like to talk with us, just come by the office and we will discuss
them with you.

11/01/2007

Counterfeit
Cashier Checks:

We
have seen a few Counterfeit Cashier Checks passed in our area. For
sometime, it has always been a pretty good bet that if someone gave you a
cashier check from a bank, it was good as cash. Not anymore.
With the advances in technology and criminals learning how to use this
technology, we are seeing more and more counterfeit cashier checks.
We recommend that if it is a local bank, take it to the bank and get
it verified. If you should cash it, you will be responsible for the
money withdrawn from the institution and you could face criminal
charges. If you get one of these checks in them in the mail,
and instructed to send part of the money to another location by Western
Union, don't do it. This is similar to the Money Order Scams.
Again, if you are involved in one of these cases, please speak to someone
with your local law enforcement agency.